Are Israel and Turkey again cooperating in the defense industry?

Author: Petr Lyukimson, Israel, exclusive to VK

 

Turkish-Israeli relations continue to surprise even experienced political observers. In response to the demarches of Ankara in 2011, Israel has frozen all contracts with Turkey related to the transfer of the secret military technologies to this country. It seems that a week ago, the official leadership of Turkey said that it was going to return unmanned aerial vehicles purchased from Israel, because the Israeli technology, according to them, was not enough good.

 

Therefore message sounded on Friday, November 9, that Israel's Defense Ministry has allowed the company "Elta" to make the previously frozen deal and to supply top secret equipment valued at $ 100 million to the Turkish Air Force was seen as a bolt from the blue.

 

According to military observers, the message can only mean one thing: Israel and Turkey are going to resume defense cooperation. But why? Recall that show trial in Istanbul against former Israeli army leadership has just begun.

 

In short, currently all the leading political commentators are in a state of mild surprise, saying that the situation is completely unclear. However, some experts think that the U.S. efforts have not been in vain, and both Turkey and Israel realized that, whether they like it or not, they will have to coordinate their actions and position on the issue of Syria.

 

As for the trial in Istanbul, the chief military prosecutor of Israel Avichai Mendelblit said that we should not give much importance to it. "Holding such a trial, which is a flagrant violation of all legal norms, Turkey, in fact, only caused great damage to itself by hitting its image of a democratic state with the rule of law. Despite all the possible verdicts of the “court”, even if Turkey demands the arrest of our officers, they could easily arrive in the U.S., Western Europe and in many other countries, because the governments of these countries have recognized the validity of the conclusions of the UN commission headed by George Palmer. But these conclusions are clear: perhaps there was excessive use of force on board the "Marmara", but in general the actions of Israel and of its army were perfectly legitimate from the point of view of international law and could not be considered a war crime. But, of course, our officers should not go to Antalya for a vacation”, Mendelblit said.